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Name: Sarina Vasta
September 29, 2010

Assignment #3 EDC 203---Wiki of Great Language Arts Sites
Intermediate 4-6

Title of Site: Soft School

Title of game: Rhyme Quiz
URL: http://www.softschools.com/manage/themes/knowledgetest

Summary of site: Soft school has a lot of different language arts games to choose from. They focus on the skill more than the attractiveness of the page.
Summary of game: This game focuses on finding words that rhyme. There are four choices and you have to click on the circle in front of the words that rhymes with the word given. This game is best for 4th graders.

Evaluation: Overall Soft school is an appropriate site for elementary students. Some may be advanced for the games, but that is something that will occur with any site. The game itself is not very exciting but it serves its purpose.

1. Color: Neutral colors, nothing very exciting. The game page is not very bright and there is a lot of empty space that could be used more effectively by adding more color.
2. Repetition:In one session none of the words are repeated but if you want to play again, the same words are given every time.
3. Talking Text: There is no talking text.
4. Visual Cues: There are no visual cues.
5. Mistakes: This game keeps count of each set you get correct and each one the student completes incorrectly. When a mistake is made, the test keeps going and at the end it shows the student what you got wrong but it doesn't display the word choices.
6. Rating: NA
7. Highlighted Cues: There are no highlighted cues.
8. Navigation routine:The students are brought to the directions page and then they have to click on "Take the test".
9. Click Back and Back: Brings the student back to the previous screen and the previous words.
10. Click and drag: The student cannot click and drag. By doing this, whatever the student clicks on and drags will become highlighted and nothing will happen.

Rating: 6

Title of site: Funschool
Title of game: Food Jumble
URL: http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/games/game_food_jumble.html

Summary of site: Funschool is very colorful. There are a lot of different games to choose from each with multiple levels of difficulty.

Summary of game: Students are presented with a jumbled word and a grocery list on the side of the fridge with word possibilities. The student has to unscramble the word.

Evaluation: This game is great for 3rd or 4th graders. On the second level of difficulty the student has to guess the word themselves, there is no grocery list to help them.

1.Color: The colors are bright and fun. They attract your attention. The letters on the fridge are in different colors, but the background is solid so the student can see the letter choices.
2. Repetition: There is no repetition.
3. Talking Text: There is no talking text.
4. Visual Cues: The visual cues on the first level is the grocery list on the right side of the game screen. There are no visual cues in the second level.
5.Mistakes: The game won't automatically correct the student because the grocery list is on the side. The student needs to realize what their mistake is.
6.Rating: NA
7. Highlighted cues:There are no highlighted cues.
8. Navigation Cutes: there are no navigation cues
9. Click Back and Back: brings the student to the previous screen.
10. Click and drag: The student cannot click and drag.
Rating: 8

Title of Site:  Funbrain
Title of Game: Stay Afloat




URL: http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/hm.cgi?A1=s&A2=animals2&A3=1&A9=2&A10=2&A11=0
Summary of site: Funbrain is very user friendly and each game also lists the appropriate grade level for that particular game. The site itself is a little bland, and not very colorful, but the games are useful for elementary students.


Summary of game:
Stay Afloat makes the student guess the word of a certain category. The student gets to choose the category and the game provides clues if the student guesses too many letters. This games is similar to Hangman.

Evaluation:
This game is fun and a great interactive site for the students to improve their vocabulary. The teacher can assign a certain category that pertains to a recent or upcoming lesson.
1. Color: This game is very colorful. The background is blue and the letters to choose from stand out in white. It is very attractive.
2. Repetition: The same message pops up when you guess a wrong letter or a right letter.
3. Talking text: There is no talking text.
4. Visual Cues: The boat sinks each time you guess a wrong letter indicating that there is a limit to how many you can get wrong. The letters you guess right are placed on top of the page and the letters you guess wrong disappear so the student can’t choose them again.
5. Mistakes: The only mistake the student can make is by guessing a wrong letter. The penalty for that is the boat sinks and the wrong letter disappears from your selection.
6. Rating: NA
7. Highlighted cues: When the student guesses the wrong letter repeatedly, the game offers suggestions or clues to help the student get the right answer.
8. Navigation Cues: There are no navigation cues.
9. Click Back and Back: The internet will ask if you want to resend the page, and if you click yes then the student and or teacher will be brought back to the previous page.
10. Click and drag: There are no options to click and drag.

Rating
: 8